Process of and apparatus for aging fabrics



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. SIMPSON.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR AGING FABRICS. No. 255,543. Patented Mar. 28, 1882.

N. PETERS. Pnmn-uxm m her, Washin ton, D. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T.v SIMPSON. PRQOESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR AGING FABRICS. No. 255,543- Patented Mar. 28,1882.

V c M M 512% A A i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS SIMPSON, OF PHILADELPIEIIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS-FOR AGING FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,543, dated March 28, 1882. p

' Application filed January 17, 1882. (No model.)

aging operation, render the same uniform and capable of being carried on with the same facility in all weathers, and overcome certain objections to the ordinary modes of operation, all of which objects I effect by the means hereinafter described and the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal section.

A A A A represent the outer walls, B the roof, and O the floor, of a building of any'suitable shape and dimensions.

Within the building, and generally corresponding in shape therewith, is a lining, E, having side and end walls, a a a a and roof I), but so much smaller than the main building as to leave a space, as, between the two; and the walls a a are shorter than the walls AA, or are perforated near the bottom to form openings y above the floor O, as shown.

Along the ridge, within the inner lining, extends a pipe, I, with perforations c at different points, and communicating with a pipe, J, extending to a heater, K, through which the air is propelled by a fan or other blower, L, and

thereby heated and driven through the pipes J I and out through the openings 0 into the chamber W, inclosed by the lining E. A jet of steam is injected into the air before it passes to the pipe J, so that it will be delivered to the chamber W in a moist, warm condition. The pieces S of fabric to be aged are hung upon horizontal slats a, suitably supported near the top of the inner chamber, W, and are thus subjected to the volume of warm, moist air which descends from the pipe I to the floor, and passes thence through the openings yand space variations of the external temperature.

00 between the outer and ,inner walls to the roof, and then to the outer air through a suit able ventilator, N.

Agin g-houses as heretofore constructed have been provided with single walls, the air being introduced at the bottom, flowing up over the fabric to the top, and then out at the ventilator. This mode of construction and operation is attended with various disadvantages. All the heavy gases that naturally settle at the bottom of the cl amber are carried up and over the fabric. The walls become readily chilled and condense the vapor, the precipitation of the moisture upon the fabric detracting from the beauty and sharpness of the patterns, rendering it necessary to use drier air than it would otherwise be desirable to employ and prolonging the time required to age the fabrics. The operations were further under the influence of the external atmosphere, so that they could not be carried on uniformly, but required to be varied from time to time. By the means above described these difficulties are avoided.

The passing of the air from the top to the bottom of the fabrics facilitates the precipitation of heavy deleterious gases and avoids the injury resulting from carrying them over the fabric. The conducting ot' the spent air and gases upward between the outer and. the.lining walls forms a non-conducting lining or envelope, preventing the abstraction of heat, so that the chamber \V can be maintained at the 'desired high and uniform temperature, notwithstanding the chilling of theouter walls and The bygrometric condition of the air within the chamber W may thus be maintained very nearly at the dew-point without danger of precipitating moisture by the sudden chilling of the oii'ter walls.

Owing to the uniformity with which the operations may thus be conducted and to capacity to use air in a very moist condition, I am 5 shown,

I claim- IOO 1. The Within-described improvement in aging fabrics, the same consisting in subjecting the fabrics properly prepared to the action of currents of moist heated air directed downward over the suspended fabrics, substantially as set forth. 0

2. In an apparatus for aging fabrics, the combination, with a case or house and with devices for suspending the fabrics therein, of an inlet-opening at the top, an outlet at the bottom, and appliances whereby currents of heated, moist air are passed into and out of the suspension-chamber from the top downward, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the outer walls provided with openings at the top, the inner lin- 1 ing with openings at the bottom, an inlet airpipe, and appliances for passing warm,moist air to said pipe, whereby currents of the warm, moist air are forced downward within the inner chamber and upward between the inner and outer walls, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOS. SIMPSON. Witnesses:

GEORGE ASHBRIDGE,

W. T. ELLIOTT. 

